THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1979
3
BUT HE UNDERTOOK TO EXAMINE, FROM A POLICY POINT OF VIEW, THE QUESTION OF THE LIABILITY OF CREDIT UNIONS TO INTEREST TAX, +NOT THAT I BELIEVE THE IR PRESENT LIABILITY UNDER THE LAW INVOLVES A THREAT TO THEIR VERY EXISTENCE.
MR. HADDON-CAVE DENIED THAT THE BUDGET STRATEGY FOR A CUT-BACK IN GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE IN THE MIDDLE OF RECESSION IN 1974-75 WAS +SHORT-SIGHTED AND UNNECESSARY+ AS DESCRIBED BY THE HON. LI FOOK-WO IN THE DEBATE.
HE SAID FROM LATE 1975 ONWARDS, THE 1975-76 BUDGET CAN CLAIM SOME CREDIT FOR THE SPEED AND DURATION OF HONG KONG'S RECOVERY CITING THE LAND PRODUCTION RATE IN RECENT YEARS, THE GROWTH RATE OF EXPENDITURE AND THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE. HÉ SAID OUR FREE FISCAL RESERVES ARE NOW AT A LEVEL WHICH SAFEGUARDS OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN A GIVEN LEVEL OF EXPENDITURE AS AND WHEN A PURELY FINANCIAL CONSTRAINT EMERGES.
IN HIS SPEECH WINDING UP THE ANNUAL DEBATE, MR. HADDON-CAVE ALSO AGREED THAT THE WIDER THE ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HONG KONG AND BRITAIN THE WIDER IT IS SEEN TO BE THE MORE EASILY H.M.G.'S OBLIGATION TO HONG KONG WOULD BE UNDERSTOOD.
HE SAID WITHOUT COMPROMISING HONG KONG'S FREE TRADE PHILOSOPHY, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE TO SEE BRITISH FIRMS ESTABLISHING THEMSELVES IN THIS MARKET. +TO THIS END, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR COMMISSIONER IN LONDON IS TIRELESS IN HIS ENDEAVOURS TO PUBLICISE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE FOUND HERE.+
CIVIL SERVANTS URGED TO ACT RESPONSIBLY TOWARDS
PAY REPORT *****
THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. MARTIN ROWLANDS, TODAY (THURSDAY) URGED CIVIL SERVANTS WHO HAVE RESERVATIONS ON THE FIRST REPORT ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY TO ACT RESPONSIBLY AND PUT THE IR CASES BACK TO THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. ROWLANDS REITERATED THAT THIS IS A STANDING COMMISSION AND, AS THE COMMISSION ITSELF RECOGNISES. ITS FIRST REPORT DOES NOT PRETEND TO SOLVE ALL PAY PROBLEMS OR MEET ALL CIVIL SERVANTS' EXPECTATIONS.+
+THUS THE COMMISSION REMAINS READY TO REVIEW PAY SCALES AS NECESSARY IN THE LIGHT OF COMMENTS FROM BOTH STAFF AND MANAGEMENT, HE ADDED.
MR. ROWLANDS SAID DURING THE FIRST YEAR, THE COMMISSION HAS FOCUSSED VERY MUCH ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY. IN FACT, IT ALSO HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN THE FUTURE IN RELATION TO HOUSING AND OTHER CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, AS WELL AS IN IMPROVING CONSULTATIVE PROCEDURES.
/*IN ALL